Greetings friends! Welcome to chapter 3! The next few chapters are going to focus on the groundwork for the relationships. Have no fear, plot related things will be sprinkled in these chapters as well. Please review! Hope you enjoy the chapter!
I do not own Avatar: The Last Airbender!
Aang woke up in a frenzie. He wasn't in chains and was actually in a bed.
Wait, why am I in a bed? And where the fuck am I?
Aang sat up and noticed the room around him; it was a room in the Earth Kingdom. There were green and gold drapes hanging by a large window. Large oak doors led to what he assumed was a bathroom and there was a smaller single door on the other side of the room.
"Hello? Anyone there?" Aang called tried to sit up but couldn't move due to the sheer amount of pain that he felt in his joints and muscles. "Is there anyone there? Hello?" he shouted from his bed. He was so confused that he didn't realize that someone else had entered his room.
"Well would you look at that, the Avatar is awake."
Aang shuttered at the voice. The voice he knew so well. The voice of his captor. The voice of his master. It was the voice of Princess Azula. For some reason, he felt comfort. He felt a slight relief wash over him. At least I'm not dead, he thought to himself.
"Hey, Azula. Do you mind answering me why the fuck I'm not in a prison cell? Oh, and you can also tell me what you are planning and how I fit into all of this? Along with…" Aang looked at the Princess who was looking back at him. The look in her eyes was all telling. If only for a second, she could see genuine concern for him. In that second, he saw her look over him to make sure he was ok.
Ever since making the command to move him, she had been worried. She worried about whether she had gone too far with the torture, or if his body could handle the transfer to the bed and the room. For some reason, she couldn't explain this. Azula was the person who didn't think about others very often. Sure, she had Ty Lee and Mai, but she never felt any kind of concern for another person for as long as she could remember.
Well I guess there's a first time for everything. Azula sighed as she looked at Aang in the eyes. She saw him glaring at her with anger and confusion. On the outside, no one could ever tell this, but Azula had no clue what she was doing. She was totally out of her element.
"Well, to answer your questions, Avatar, you are in a bedroom next to mine. You will be informed of my plan in due time. For now, though, all meals will be served to you. You will not be leaving this room unless accompanied by me and me alone. Any attempts to escape will be dealt with swiftly. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes," the young Avatar responded. "You make yourself very clear, Princess."
"Excellent. Then I will inform the kitchen staff and they will bring us breakfast." Azula moved towards the smaller door in the room which was connected to her room.
"Wait, what the fuck do you mean 'us'?" Aang asked, assuming that he would be eating alone in the room. "I thought you had a city to run." Aang spat at his mistress as she was leaving the room.
Azula sighed and turned around to face him. "I'll have you know that this city is in the best of care. While yes I am in charge, there are a plethora of people who actually run this place." She turns back around to face the door and opens it leaving the boy alone.
Walking towards the kitchen early in the morning was something that Azula usually never did. She usually had all of her meals in the dining hall where she would talk to Ty Lee and Mai or be swamped with paperwork from idiots who needed her opinion on everything. Today was different. There were no early morning chats with her friends around the table or papers. She was simply going to inform a servant that she needed food to be brought back to her room immediately. Hopefully, she was going to be able to do this task without it going off the rails.
And off the rails it went.
"Princess Azula! Princess, can I have a word with you for a moment?"
Running full steam behind her was one of the officials that she had picked to oversee the lower limits of the city. He wasn't very tall nor attractive, but what he lacked in appearance he was supposed to be making up in intellect.
"Yes, minister? What is it that you need right now?" Azula turned around and glared at the short man who was running full speed towards her to try and catch up to her.
"Well I was just asking for your approval on these plans to re-educate and change the curriculum of the current schools in the city. We need to start… reconditioning the kids so that they won't put up a fight when the rest of our forces arrive." The minister held out numerous documents that showed the different ideas for "reconditioning" the youth of Ba Sing Se. Azula, however, did not care about what the minister had to say and simply dismissed him.
Sensing that he wasn't getting any feedback from his plan, Minster Yeo decided to pick a different topic that he could discuss with the Princess. "I heard that someone has moved in next to your room in the palace; is it anyone I would know?"
Azula continued to glare at the Minister and moved towards him, grabbing the collar of his robe. "Minister, you do not need to worry about who is sleeping in the room across from me. What you simply need to focus on are the tasks I gave to you yesterday. Is that clear, Yeo?"
Knowing that she got the message across, Azula stormed off towards the kitchen.
Finally reaching her intended destination, Azula informs the servants that she would like to have breakfast in her room and that they need to bring it up to her immediately. She also informed her to bring enough for two people. Then she left the kitchen and returned to her room, this time not running into anyone in the hallway. Opening her door, she first changed into something that was much more suited to spending the entire day with the Avatar. Her entire plan revolved around getting close to him and having her trust him, which meant learning about him and getting to know him. She decided to change into some elastic pants that hugged her lower half around her butt and hips. They were a deep shade of red that had black stripes running up the sides, deciding to just wear just a simple black long-sleeve tunic. It fitted quite snugly across the chest area. While she didn't have cannons the size of Ty Lee, she was not lacking in that department. Putting on her slip on shoes, she opened the door and was not pleased with what she saw on the other side.
WHERE THE FUCK DID HE GO?! Azula was internally screaming and was looking around the room to try and find any trace of her prisoner. She couldn't find any evidence of him escaping. Looking around, she spotted the curtains had moved from their normal position.
No...No..NO…He wouldn't just jump out of the window. Would he?
Azula walked towards the window and was relieved to find that it was still closed and the lathes had not been tampered with by the Airbender. Sighing in relief, Azula made her way back to the middle of the room to try and find him.
Maybe he's in the bathroom getting cleaned up. SHIT! I didn't get him any clothes! Azula facepalmed at her oversight and went to try and find him some clothes. Maybe we didn't throw away all his clothing from when I captured him. I'll have to check that later, but right now I need to get him something to…
Azula was rudely interrupted from her thoughts when she saw the teenager step out of the bathroom in nothing but a towel wrapped low on his waist. She had to admit, he was quite the sight to behold. Even after weeks of being strapped from a ceiling with little food, water, or movement, he was still just as muscular and built as he was the day he was moved to his cell.
Sure Azula had seen him like this numerous times throughout him being her prisoner, but this was definitely different. He was standing at his full height, his body totally upright, showing off his impressive height. He was also still slightly wet which gave him a slight glisten. She couldn't stop looking at him. What she could do was notice the blush that was slowly creeping onto both of their faces the longer they both looked at each other.
"A-azula!" Aang sputtered. "What are you doing here?!" Aang was clearly not expecting Azula to just walk into his room unannounced like this.. Shit, what am I supposed to do now? I'm in a fucking towel just staring at her. And when did she get so hot?' As soon as that last thought crossed his mind, his blush suddenly went deeper across his face.
"Well, I had originally come to tell you that breakfast was being brought to the room…" She blushed deeper. "But it appears I caught you at a rather unpleasant time." Azula turned around and walked towards his bed to avoid looking at him while he was naked. She looked on the floor to find some dirty sleep clothes that the servants had put him in the night before laying on the floor and sighed.
"I'll have to buy you some clothing since I'm guessing you have nothing but a towel and dirty sleepwear." Azula moved from his bed to his dresser, only to confirm that nothing was inside of it.
"I mean, I could just wear a towel for the rest of my life, but I guess you wouldn't really like that considering the fact that I'm supposed to help you win the war now." Aang smirked and walked towards the bed, laying there and watching the Princess move around the room.
"I have a dress that you could wear, but you will look ridiculous," Azula suggested while walking towards the door that connected both their rooms. Wait, since when did I care about his feelings and how he would look?
Across the room, Aang was just as shocked and surprised for what the Princess said. Why is she...being nice to me? I'm her prisoner right? Aang was at this point confused. He just couldn't read Azula and he hated it; but something about it made him feel excited for some weird, twisted reason. With Katara, sure, she had been motherly and overbearing, but she was sometimes annoying. With Azula, she said something and it had some sort of moxy and power to it. Whenever she said something, one had to listen to what was being said, and he loved it.
What am I thinking? She's the enemy.
While Aang was distracted, Azula had left to get him something to wear. She had returned with a large black and red dress-like robe that would cover him until they could go shopping.
"Here you go, Avatar." She tossed the article of clothing at him and turned around while he put it on. "Put this on. Once we eat breakfast, the four of us will go get you clothes."
"Wait, four? Who are the other two?" Aang asked while trying to put on his clothes.
"Well, Ty Lee and Mai of course. If I have to suffer then so should they." Azula turned around to see that Aang was dressed and then heard a knock at the door, signaling for this eventful day to begin.
For most people, riding on a sky bison would have been a very pleasant and serene experience. From just the quietness and the scenery alone, it would have been a relaxing ride. However, for this group it was anything but quiet and calm.
"Ughh! When can we land?! We've been up here for hours!" Toph groaned as she leaned on the back of the saddle trying to get comfortable.
"Toph, fuck off,"Sokka shot back. "We've only been up here for like six hours. We have to be flying for a while until we can land. We only have four more days to get to Suki. We would have had four and a half but someone decided to spend all morning at the market." He looked back from his position on the head of Appa and glared at his sister who was practicing her Waterbending in the middle of the saddle.
"Well, I have an idea for how we can pass the time," Zuko spoke up from his position in the saddle.
"Oh yeah, and what's that Sparky?" Toph asked snarkily from her side of the saddle.
"Let's play twenty-one questions." Zuko said. He moved to form a circle in the center of the saddle.
"Actually, that sounds kinda fun. I'm down if everyone else is," Katara replied as she bends her water back into the kanteen and sits next to Zuko.
"Fuck it. Let's play." Toph shifted her body to face the group and sat next to Katara.
"I can't, guys,"said Sokka. "Someone has to get us to a campsite."
"Get your ass over here, Snoozles," Toph barked.
"Ugh, fine,"Sokka groaned. "Appa, just keep heading straight."
Appa groans at the command as Sokka makes his way over to his friends.
"Okay, I'll go first. What's everyone's favorite color?" Zuko asked the group.
"Mine has gotta be dark blue," Katara explained, holding up her tunic.
"Gotta be silver for me," Sokka said, holding up his boomerang.
"Toph what about you? Don't you have a favorite color?" Zuko looked at the blind girl sitting across from him.
"Well Sparky, I would have thought about that, she sneered. Oh wait, I can't because I'M BLIND, YOU FUCKING IDIOT!"
Zuko sighed as he realized his problem and the rest of the group just laughed as the Prince apologized.
"I got one!" Katara exclaimed. "What's everyone's favorite food?"
"It would have to be mom's grilled seal." Sokka's mouth waters as he thinks back on the memories he had with his meat.
"I don't know, it would probably have to be something Sugar Queen has made. I didn't really like the food that was served at my house."
"I would have to agree with you, Toph," Zuko said. "Living on a boat for three years and then being poor in the Earth Kingdom can't really get you much."
"Awww Zuko," Katara smiled. "Toph, that means a lot to know that someone actually enjoys what I make for dinner," Katara added, happily looking at the two.
"Alright, my turn; since Twinkle Toes isn't here, what does everyone hate about him?" Toph said with a smile, knowing she made everyone in the group fluster.
"I guess I don't like how he trapped my boat in ice and nearly killed me in that fire temple that one time. Or that other time when he-" Zuko was about to continue when Katara hit him across the head.
"Yes we get it, Aang has nearly killed you. We were there," Sokka said to the Prince. "I would probably have to say he can be a bit preachy on morals sometimes."
"Mine has gotta be his lack of a backbone. He just lets anyone push him around. He's also not the greatest Earthbender," Toph explained.
"I guess mine is that everything comes so easy to him. Like I get it, he's the Avatar, but like, sometimes he's so smug when he Waterbends," Katara said softly.
"Alright, I guess I'll go," Sokka spoke up. "If you could bend any other element, which one would you bend?"
"I think Air would be really cool," Zuko pondered, looking at his hands. "There's so much stuff you can do with it."
"I would love to be able to bend metal. OH WAIT, I ALREADY CAN," Toph yelled at everyone and crushed a nearby metal can into a small box.
"Fuck you, Toph." Katara blurted, glaring at the Earthbender. "Fire would be useful to learn, I guess."
"It sucks," Zuko said to Katara. "There's no defense, only offense; you have to rely on yourself for defense."
"Well, anyway, I have a question; who is everyone's crush?" Toph said with a smirk on her face.
"For me it's gotta be Suki," Sokka says with a smug look on his face.
"Yeah, no shit it's Suki," Katara joked, laughing. "She's your fucking girlfriend."
"Oh yeah? Who's your crush, Katara?" Sokka fires back at his sister, causing her to stiffen.
"I...I don't have a crush right now. Nope, no crushes here," Katatra stammered.
"I don't have one either," Zuko said with his normal look. However, both were lying to the group. Zuko was much better at hiding his, though.
"Alright, fine, I don't have one either. I'm not really the relationship type of person." Toph explained.
This game went on for some amount of time. Toph would try to expose everyone and Sokka would just be an idiot and ask the dumbest questions imaginable. After a while, it was starting to get dark and they had to find a plot of land to camp on. Sokka had returned to the head of Appa and was leaning on the back of the saddle. Zuko was currently looking at the sleeping girl in his lap. Katara had fallen asleep toward the end of the game and had decided to use Zuko as a pillow.
"Alright guys, we're about to land. I found us some nice land to camp at for the night," Sokka called from the front of Appa, who was currently descending towards the ground.
"Ugh, finally. I thought we were never gonna land." Toph stands up and stretches as she jumps off of Appa and onto the ground where she can see again.
Sokka also gets off of Appa and starts unloading when he sees Katara asleep in Zuko's lap and smirks. No crush, my right buttcheek.
Zuko shifted a little trying to get up and caused Katara to wake up. Realizing that she was laying on him, she jumped and with a start and immediately started to blush, causing Zuko to blush in return.
"I'm so sorry. I didn't realize I had fallen asleep on you. I won't do it again," Katara hastily apologized to him, starting to get out of the saddle.
"Hey, it's fine, don't worry about it." Zuko was also blushing a deep red and was running his hand through his hair. He had never been in this awkward of a conversation in his life and he had no clue what to do. I can't just say I liked it. That would be weird.
"Uh, we should probably get off and go help the others. We don't want them to get suspicious." Zuko starts climbing off of Appa, leaving Katara alone.
To her chagrin, Katara climbs down from the saddle and starts to get everything ready to cook dinner. She wasn't all that focused on what she was making and just put what she could find into the pot with some rice and water with some other seasonings and broths. She couldn't stop thinking about Toph's crush question. I couldn't possibly have a crush on Zuko...could I? However, she would soon come to realize how very wrong she was.